Los Angeles Area Lakes, Sept. 14 Report

FishRap StaffSeptember 14, 2017

CACHUMA: Overall light fishing pressure and slow action. The bite on catfish and bass are the best bets, but they both have been fair at best. Only an occasional crappie is being reported. Trout are very slow with only the occasional fish showing from deep water (80-plus feet) near the dam. But there are lots of small bluegill around most shorelines. Carp bowfishing permits are available at the entrance gate, and quite a few carp are near the surface. Private boats must be inspected for quagga mussels and face a 30-day dry dock requirement before being allowed to launch. For quagga mussel and the boat launching information, log on at http://www.sbparks.org/DOCS/Cachuma.html. The marina is open with rental boats available. The boat launch remains open, but boats must get a quagga mussel inspection. Information: 805-688-4040.

CASITAS: The bass and catfish bites are both pretty fair. The bass have been best on topwater, plastics, nightcrawlers, and reaction baits early and late in the day, but they move deep during the day and the action slows way down. The catfish have been best on nightcrawlers and cut baits in most of the coves and off points. The bluegill and redear bites are fair but getting light fishing pressure and most of the panfish are small. The trout action has been slow with few anglers targeting the rainbows. No recent plants. A few anglers targeting carp in recent days have done very well with dough baits on fish to 10-plus pounds. Bowfishing is allowed here for carp and they continue to show on the surface most mornings. Carp bowfisherman may only shoot from a boat after 8 a.m., and lake staff must approve bows. The last general night fishing weekend will be Sept. 7-9, this Thursday through Saturday. The lake will be open until 11 p.m. these days. The last night bass tournament on the RTF Bass Tour will be held this Saturday, Sept. 16. Call Rich Tauber at 818-439-1154 on the night tournament schedule and entry information. Private boats must be inspected for quagga mussels and face a 35-day dry dock requirement before being allowed to launch. The Santa Ana boat launch is open. Information: 805-649-2043 or www.casitasboatrentals.com.

CASTAIC: The striped bass have been boiling at lot over the past week and there has been some good quality fish in this bite. Topwater baits, surface rip baits, live shad (if you can dip some), and spoons are all getting stripers to 10 pounds when they boil, but the shad, sardines, and blood worms are also working on deeper, metered fish when the fish aren’t up. The largemouths and smallmouths are also up chasing shad morning and evening, but the bite is just fair. Reaction baits are best early and late, but some bigger fish showing on jigs in deeper water. The bluegill bite remains good in both the upper and lower lakes, but the weed beds continue to be troublesome. Tons of small fish, but some bigger fish to a pound and meal worms are the top bait, but red worms, nightcrawler pieces, crickets, and wax worms also good. Trout are slow, with no recent plants and none likely until winter. A few catfish reports on quality fish, but the fish are few and far between. Few anglers targeting the cats. For information call the marina at 661-775-6232 (www.CastaicLake.com) or Tackle Express at 661-251-8700.

PIRU: Slow to fair bite on largemouth and smallmouth bass but the warm weather and dropping water levels has moved the fish into deeper water. There has been a topwater bite during a narrow window early in the day. Most of the bass are in the one to three-pound range. Bluegill, crappie, and catfish are slow to fair. Best action on bluegill is in four to 12 feet on wax worms or crickets. The launch ramp is open. Rental boats are also available. Information: gatehouse at 805-521-1500 (or at www.camplakepiru.com) or call Tackle Express at 661-251-8700.

PYRAMID: The striper bite is fair to good with a lot of fish showing on topwater early and then trolled flies and swim baits later. They are boiling on shad most mornings and then on the bait in deeper water later in the day. Trolling with umbrella rigs or jigging spoons has been the best bet when they move deer. Most are one to three pounds now with some bigger. Largemouth and smallmouth bass action has been fair and improving. A lot of fish up chasing baitfish morning and evening, and them move deeper during the day. The best bite has been on topwater baits early and then reaction baits, plastics and jigs. There is a fair catfish bite with the fish moving shallow. Bluegill and redear are fair to good in 10 to 18 feet of water on wax worms and red worms. Trout slow with no recent DFW plants. There is a health warning about eating fish from Pyramid Lake (except the rainbow trout). More information at this link. Information: Emigrant Landing entrance booth at 661-295-7155 or Tackle Express at 661-251-8700.

LOS ANGELES/ORANGE COUNTY PARK NEWS: For trout plants, see the list in this report or go to the DFW website for any updates and future plants.